BCS National Championship: TCU now knows how Oregon, Auburn felt

The OregonianJoey Harrington wasn't part of a national championship team in 2001 - shut out like TCU was this season - but the Ducks did win the 2002 Fiesta Bowl here.

TCU coach Gary Patterson told ESPN Radio on Tuesday that he thinks about whether his Horned Frogs, unbeaten after a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin, could beat Oregon or Auburn, but he doesn’t dwell on it.

“I think all of us think about it,’’ Patterson said. “This is the way the system is and this is the rules. Those are the two teams that are also undefeated that are going to get a chance to play in it. … Six years ago … we were just going to try to get to a BCS game and now we’ve been to two in a row. Now, our goal someday, I think, is to get the opportunity to play in a national championship game.”

Six years ago, Auburn was feeling jilted about not being included in the championship game despite a 13-0 run in 2004. And of course, Oregon (2001) also knows how Patterson feels to come oh-so-close to the title game.